Biography

Mr. Kurta, a Senior Executive Service member, is responsible for recruitment, retention, compensation, travel and associated human resource management areas for active and reserve service members.

Career

Prior to his current assignment, Mr. Kurta served as the director of Navy flag officer management and development for the Navy. Mr. Kurta previously spent more than 32 years as an active-duty service member before his retirement from the Navy as a rear admiral. During that time, he served as a Navy surface warfare officer, commanding the USS Sentry, Guardian, Warrior and Carney, and the Destroyer Squadron Two Four. He also commanded active-duty, reserve, officer and enlisted service members from multiple service branches during his time leading the Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa. His shore assignments included chief of the Special Actions Division on the Joint Staff, director of the Surface Officer Distribution Division at the Navy Personnel Command, director of Policy for Resources and Strategy for the U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa, and director for Military Personnel Policy in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.

His accomplished career earned him the Distinguished Service medal, Defense Superior Service medal, Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service medals, as well as other unit commendations.

Education

Mr. Kurta earned a Master of Arts in national security studies from Georgetown University, and he is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate. He is also a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, and was awarded a national security fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.